Court dismisses solar power judicial review application
A court application to overturn Edmonton city council’s approval of Epcor’s planned 51-acre solar farm in the river valley has been quashed. Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice George Fraser found the judicial review brought forward by river valley activists to be moot because the project had already gone through the proper approvals and couldn’t be overturned.
The 45,000-panel solar farm project next to Epcor’s E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant has long been a bone of contention in the city. Council approved rezoning for the development through a split 7-6 vote in October 2020. The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition challenged the decision, launching a judicial review which was heard last November.
In his decision, Fraser said this determination would only be required if the project were a major public facility or if the city were putting money into the project and he found neither factor to be met. The coalition also took issue with council’s focus on the financial benefits when making the decision and not specifically pointing out social or environmental impacts.
Fraser said “It may be true that the financial benefits of the project were given priority over the other considerations. There is nothing in the bylaw that requires an equal weighting of the factors. The councillors were free to assign whatever weighting he or she wanted to each of the factors. If the electorate does not like the councillor’s perceived weighting, they can reflect their displeasure at the ballot box.”
Coalition chair Kristine Kowalchuk said the organization is disappointed and considering all its options, including an appeal. “The decision wording does, however, make clear that this issue is a serious one. The issue underscores the need for the City of Edmonton to undertake administrative changes to better protect our river valley.” More at https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/judicial-review-to-halt-council-approved-epcor-solar-farm-project-in-the-river-valley-dismissed-by-court-ruling-project-moving-ahead-with-completion-pegged-for-the-spring
Now is perfect time to remove black knot
Black knot is caused by the fungus Apiosporina morbosa and attacks various trees and shrubs. It infects trees within the Prunus genus, which includes different types of plum and cherry trees. The fungus has also been known to infect shrubs in the Rose family. The spores spread in warm and wet weather, so it should be removed when temperatures are consistently below zero.
It is spread through spores by rain, wind, birds, and insects that have had contact with infected trees. The spores spread in the spring and infect other trees, then in the summer the infection creates green swellings at the tip of the branches. In the following years, these swellings blacken and enlarge. Learn more and how to control it at https://www.ealt.ca/blog/black-knot-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-care?rq=black%20knot
Volunteers needed for urban coyote intervention program
The Edmonton Urban Coyote Project at the University of Alberta is looking for volunteers to participate in the Urban Coyote Intervention Program. This program aims to determine whether intimidating coyotes occupying residential neighbourhoods can increase their wariness towards people.
Volunteers will learn how to intimidate coyotes in specific situations by chasing them while making noise and throwing tennis balls weighted with sand and fitted with flagging tape. These actions are intended to frighten coyotes, but not injure them.
Use of similar techniques, known as hazing or aversive conditioning, is widely recommended by wildlife managers to reduce habituation by animals to people and avoid the subsequent need for more intensive tools, including lethal management. Learn more about this program and how to participate at https://urbancoyoteinterventionprogram.weebly.com/
Riverdale one of the oldest neighbourhoods in our city
Nestled into a bend of the North Saskatchewan River and surrounded by high cliffs, the district which would later be called Riverdale was the first industrial suburb of Fort Edmonton
The search for gold in the 1860s saw early European visitors, and they were followed in the next 30 years by settlers who established wheat fields, steamboat landings, ferries, lumber and grist mills, coal mines and a brickyard. Workers first lived on site, but soon spread beyond the bunkhouses. Everyone called this area Fraser Flats, after the owner of the lumber mill.
Clay, water and abundant trees for fuel made this river flat a perfect place to make brick. The needs of a growing town and the enterprising spirit of James Brown Little combined in 1893 to found a century-long dynasty of brick makers.
Said to be “the most consistently high-quality brick of its time,” the Little product helped build early 20th century Edmonton. J.B. and his descendants established many long-standing social traditions of the district and sponsored hockey and baseball teams for years.
Today the brickyard has been developed into residential housing, but J.B.’s brick house still stands and is home to a trendy café enjoyed by Riverdalians and river-valley visitors alike. In 1905, the area was subdivided, and a land boom quickly saw the present residential shape take form. Read more at https://riverdalians.ca/history
Private golf courses open for free winter public use
Councillor Michael Janz writes “I’m getting a number of complaints from skiers or neighbours that the Mayfair regularly closes their parking lot and limits the access to the grounds. I’ve heard a number of folks are simply discouraged due to the inconsistency, so they simply seek other routes.”
Comment or contribution
If you have a comment, concern, or question, contact us at nsrivervalley@gmail.com Please also email us river valley photos or event information. Your friends, neighbours and colleagues can sign up for this newsletter on our web site https://www.edmontonrivervalley.org/
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712